Shadowbox Live and
Opera Columbus collaborate on an abridged, contemporary, English-language version
of the operetta '
The Merry Widow' this weekend at
Backstage Bistro, 503 S. Front St. The production features the vocal talent of
Opera Columbus performing a new adapted libretto under the direction of Shadowbox Live Executive
Producer Stev Guyer. Showtimes are 4 p.m. Saturday and 5 p.m. Sunday each weekend through Feb. 2.
Tickets are free to $10. Make reservations at 614-416-7625. Details at
www.sbxbackstagebistro.com

-- Forbidden Broadway

Pompous Broadway divas and bloated big-budget musicals are easy target for the satirical lyrics
and show-tune parodies in
Forbidden Broadway: Vol. 1. The nine-show encore production by
CATCO will be at 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday in the
Riffe Center’s Studio Three Theatre, 77 S. High St. Tickets cost $35. Call
614-469-0939 or visit
www.catcoistheatre.org

* * *

FRIDAY

-- High school bands

High-school musicians from as far away as Tennessee and South Dakota will travel to
Ohio Wesleyan University during its 50th annual
President’s High School Band Festival on Friday and Saturday. After participating
in workshops, the students will join the Ohio Wesleyan Symphonic Wind Ensemble and the Park Avenue
Jazz Ensemble in a free community concert at 7 p.m. Saturday in Gray Chapel, University Hall, 61 S.
Sandusky St., Delaware. Call 740-368-3700 or visit
music.owu.edu

-- Ron White

Comedian
Ron "Tater Salad" White, who rose to fame as a cigar-smoking, scotch-drinking
member of the "Blue Collar Comedy" tour, has done several Comedy Central specials, and his book (I
Had the Right to Remain Silent But I Didn't Have the Ability) made the New York Times Best Seller
List. He will perform at 7 p.m. Saturday at the
Palace Theatre. Tickets are $50 and up. Get details at 614-469-0939 or
www.capa.com

-- Concert to End Homelessness

The
Columbus Jazz Orchestra ensemble and guest artists will offer two nights of
uplifting jazz, gospel and pop music in the
Concert to End Homelessness meant to raise awareness of — and funds for — the
homeless in central Ohio ($5 from each ticket will benefit the Community Shelter Board). Guests are
asked to bring towels or toiletries as a donation. Showtimes are 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday t
the
Riffe Center’s Capitol Theatre. Tickets cost $25 to $35, or $15 for students.
Contact: 614-294-5200,
www.jazzartsgroup.org

-- The Whigs

Get down with the gritty Athens, Ga., garage-rockers
The Whigs, whose percussionist, Julian Dorio, was named “best drummer in America”
by Esquire magazine. They will be playing at
The Basement, 391 Neil Ave. Doors open at 7 p.m. Friday. Tickets cost $12.
Contact: 614-461-5483,
www.promowestlive.com

-- Oneohtrix Point Never

Experimental electronic music composer
Daniel Lopatin, now releasing music under the name
Oneohtrix Point Never, will offer sounds from his recent dreamlike debut album, R
Plus Seven. Showtime is 8 p.m. Friday at the
Wexner Center for the Arts, 1871 N. High St. Tickets cost $16. Contact:
614-292-3535,
www.wexarts.org

* * *

SATURDAY

-- Winter Jam

The annual contemporary Christian music tour known as
Winter Jam returns to Columbus with a lineup featuring
Newsboys, Lecrae, Tenth Avenue North, Thousand Foot Krutch, Plumb, Colton Dixon
and others, as well as an uplifting message from young evangelist
Nick Hall. Doors open at 5 p.m. Saturday at
Value City Arena. Tickets are $10 at the door only. Details at 614-688-3939,
www.jamtour.com

-- Robert Post

Columbus actor, mime, juggler and comedian
Robert Post is known for his keen sense of the absurd. He will perform Robert Post
Comedy Theater: The One-Man Variety Show at 8 p.m. Saturday in
Ohio Wesleyan University’s Chappelear Drama Center, 45 Rowland Ave., Delaware.
Tickets cost $20, or $5 for students and senior citizens, or free for Wesleyan students and
employees. Call 740-368-3629 or visit
www.ticketweb.com or
pas.owu.edu

-- Michael Jackson tribute

It might be hard to believe that Michael Jackson has been gone for more than four years. Fans
who miss the King of Pop may enjoy
Who’s Bad: The Ultimate Michael Jackson Tribute Band, with Taalib York performing
Jackson’s hits. Doors will open at 7:30 p.m. Saturday at the
Newport Music Hall, 1722 N. High St. Tickets cost $15, or $20 at the door. Call
614-461-5483 or visit
www.promowestlive.com

-- Bee Gees tribute

The
Columbus Symphony switches into pops mode when it presents
Stayin’ Alive, a Bee Gees tribute band that brings back the sound of the brothers
Gibb. Showtime is 8 p.m. Saturday at the
Ohio Theatre. Tickets cost $25 to $68, or $14 to $36 for children. Contact:
614-228-8600; 1-800-745-3000,
www.ticketmaster.com

-- Eagles tribute

Also traveling the tribute circuit is the Eagles tribute band
Hotel California, which will be in town to play a free concert at the
Hollywood Casino Columbus, 200 Georgesville Rd. Showtime is 9 p.m. Saturday. Get
details at 614-308-3333 or
www.hollywoodcolumbus.com

-- Snarky Puppy

The New York jazz-fusion ensemble
Snarky Puppy, who last month snagged a Grammy nomination for an R&B tune, has
teamed up with a diverse list of artists ranging from Kirk Franklin to Snoop Doog. On Saturday
they'll be at
Woodlands Tavern, 1200 W. 3rd Ave. Doors open at 8 p.m. Tickets are $20, or $25 on
Saturday. Get details at 614-299-4987 or
www.woodlandstavern.com

* * *

SUNDAY

-- WWE Live

Some of the superstars of professional wrestling will be in Columbus Sunday when the
WWE Live tour comes to
Nationwide Arena. Featured event is a WWE World Heavyweight Championship Match
between John Cena and Randy Orton. Other competitors will include The Big Show, Kanes, the Rhodes
Brothers and Ryback. The event begins at 5 p.m. Tickets cost $28 to $98. Get details at
614-232-8810 or
www.nationwidearena.com

-- Spamalot

The plague-stricken Dark Ages didn’t get any darker than when the body collector shouted “Bring
out your dead!” Enjoy the moment of pure Monty Python when
Shadowbox Live revisits
Spamalot. Showtimes are 2 and 7 p.m. each Sunday through Feb. 2 at 503 S. Front
St. Tickets cost $30, or $20 for students, senior citizens and active military personnel. Call
614-416-7625 or visit
www.shadowboxlive.org